Retirement is grand, no doubt about it. When I turned in my two-month notice, it was also time to figure out how to say goodbye to so many friends from over the years.

After 28 years at the park, there were hundreds of reporters and travel writers, scores of industry pals, and, dare I say, thousands of coaster enthusiasts.

A number of years ago, I served on the Communications Committee for IAAPA, the international trade organization for the amusement industry. Friendships with Mindy, Jeffrey, Pete, Colleen, and David remain. Although … I still hold a tiny grudge remembering how you mocked my enthusiasm about embracing that new Twitter thing.

As the weeks wound down, I got a call from writer Arthur Levine. We’ve known each other for years (decades, probably) and he’s a really good guy. It doesn’t hurt that he’s from Massachusetts, not all that far from where I grew up. We hosted his family on a press trip and stayed in touch over the years as his career advanced to include About.com (now TripSavvy.com), Consumers Digest, and USA Today.

Now you may assume I loved Arthur for his potential to provide publicity for the park – and you’d be wrong. It was the puns.

Lordy, he can crank out the puns!

And in the best way possible. He slips them in liberally and appropriately, but without fanfare. He doesn’t draw additional attention by putting the puns in italics or adding “pun not intended,” the most ridiculous phrase known to man!

Arthur also writes for Funworld magazine (IAAPA’s trade publication) and that’s why he called back in June. He wanted to write a column about our years together. We had great fun reminiscing; here is the resulting feature:

I was so pleased when Arthur asked me to provide the magazine with a photo of me at the park that included Will Koch. The park’s brilliant and affable president/owner was another punster extraordinaire. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly in 2010.

Thanks for the sendoff, Arthur. As always, your puns were mightier than any sword.

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